1978 New York Yankees season

The 1978 New York Yankees season was the 76th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 100–63, finishing one game ahead of the Boston Red Sox to win their third American League East title. The two teams were tied after 162 games, leading to a one-game playoff, which the Yankees won.[1][2][3] New York played home games at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx and was managed by Billy Martin, Dick Howser, and Bob Lemon.

1978 New York Yankees
1978 American League East Division Champion
1978 American League Champion
1978 World Series Champion
Major League affiliations
Location
Other information
OwnersGeorge Steinbrenner
General managersCedric Tallis
ManagersBilly Martin – 52–42 (.553)
Dick Howser – 0–1
Bob Lemon – 48–20 (.706)
Local televisionWPIX
(Phil Rizzuto,
Frank Messer, Bill White)
Local radioWINS (AM)
(Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto,
Bill White, Fran Healy)
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In the best-of-five League Championship Series (ALCS), they defeated the Kansas City Royals in four games. In the World Series, they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games in a rematch of the previous year's.

The season was tumultuous for the Yankees, as Reggie Jackson was suspended in a mid-season showdown with Billy Martin, which resulted in Martin resigning a week later. For television viewers of the Bronx Bombers, it was the first season to be broadcast nationwide via satellite via WPIX, which that year became a superstation as well partly in response to Ted Turner's WTCG-TV nationwide broadcasts of the Atlanta Braves beginning on Opening Day of 1977. WPIX remained the team's exclusive broadcast partner for the Greater New York television viewers on FTA television and the by now superstation status and satellite broadcasts finally enabled millions all over the country to watch Yankees home and away games live as they happened.

Offseason

Regular season

Lefthander Ron Guidry was the last Yankee pitcher to win at least 25 games in a season in the 20th century.[8] In 35 starts in the regular season (including the playoff game), he pitched 273+2⁄3 innings, compiled a 25–3 record with 248 strikeouts, 1.74 ERA, and nine shutouts. Guidry won the Cy Young Award by unanimous vote.[9][10][11]

Relief pitcher Goose Gossage won Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, leading the American League with 27 saves.

Season summary

A week after the All-Star Game in July, the team was fourteen games behind Boston, but rallied to tie for first place. With a week to go, New York led by one game and won six straight,[12] but lost the finale at home to struggling Cleveland on Sunday, October 1, while Boston won their final eight games.[13][14][15] The Yankees traveled to Fenway Park and defeated the Red Sox 5–4 in the one-game playoff for the AL East title; the Monday afternoon game featured light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent's famous three-run go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Jackson's solo home run in the eighth was the winning margin.[1][2][3]

For decades, some have mistakenly thought the Yankees trailed by 14½ games, but the maximum deficit was fourteen games, after the July 17 loss and until the July 20 win.[16][17] New York's biggest lead was 3½ games, after another victory over Boston on Saturday, September 16.[18][19] The previous weekend, the Yankees swept a four-game series at Fenway, dubbed "The Boston Massacre" by the sports press;[20] it left the teams tied at 86–56 (.606) with three weeks remaining.[21][22][23]

Game log
1978 game log: 100–63 (Home: 55–26; Away: 45–37)
April: 10–9 (Home: 5–3; Away: 5–6)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveStadiumAttendanceRecord
1April 8@ Rangers1–2Matlack (1–0)Gossage (0–1)Arlington Stadium40,0780–1
2April 9@ Rangers7–1Figueroa (1–0)Alexander (0–1)Arlington Stadium20,2431–1
3April 10@ Rangers2–5D. Ellis (1–0)Tidrow (0–1)Moret (1)Arlington Stadium14,2991–2
4April 11@ Brewers6–9Augustine (2–0)Hunter (0–1)Caldwell (1)County Stadium8,9341–3
5April 12@ Brewers3–5Haas (2–0)Gossage (0–2)County Stadium8,7511–4
6April 13White Sox4–2Guidry (1–0)Wood (0–2)Yankee Stadium44,6672–4
7April 15White Sox3–2Figueroa (2–0)Barrios (0–1)Yankee Stadium20,9653–4
8April 16White Sox3–0Tidrow (1–1)Kravec (1–1)Lyle (1)Yankee Stadium32,7504–4
9April 17Orioles1–6Flanagan (1–2)Hunter (0–2)Yankee Stadium15,6744–5
10April 18Orioles4–3Lyle (1–0)T. Martinez (0–1)Yankee Stadium15,6285–5
11April 19@ Blue Jays3–4Murphy (1–0)Gossage (0–3)Exhibition Stadium13,3065–6
—April 20@ Blue JaysPostponed (rain); Makeup: September 20
12April 21Brewers2–9Augustine (3–1)Figueroa (2–1)Yankee Stadium15,1055–7
13April 22Brewers4–3 (12)Lyle (2–0)McClure (0–1)Yankee Stadium17,5946–7
14April 23Brewers2–3Sorensen (2–1)Hunter (0–3)McClure (0–1)Yankee Stadium26,2916–8
15April 24@ Orioles8–2Guidry (2–0)McGregor (0–3)Memorial Stadium18,0537–8
16April 25@ Orioles4–3Beattie (1–0)Palmer (2–1)Lyle (2)Memorial Stadium14,1598–8
17April 28@ Twins3–1Figueroa (3–1)Thormodsgard (1–2)Metropolitan Stadium11,6749–8
18April 29@ Twins1–3Zahn (2–0)Tidrow (1–2)Metropolitan Stadium10,5439–9
19April 30@ Twins3–2Gossage (1–3)Scarce (0–1)Metropolitan Stadium13,92910–9
May: 19–8 (Home: 11–3; Away: 8–5)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveStadiumAttendanceRecord
20May 1Royals8–4Eastwick (1–0)Splittorff (4–2)Lyle (3)Yankee Stadium17,34011–9
21May 2Royals4–2Hunter (1–3)Gura (2–1)Lyle (4)Yankee Stadium19,15212–9
22May 3Royals6–5Figueroa (4–1)Leonard (3–4)Gossage (1)Yankee Stadium21,23013–9
23May 5Rangers5–2Guidry (3–0)Matlack (2–4)Gossage (2)Yankee Stadium17,28514–9
24May 6Rangers5–9Umbarger (1–1)Tidrow (1–3)Yankee Stadium19,78814–10
25May 7Rangers3–2 (12)Gossage (2–3)Barker (1–2)Yankee Stadium53,82915–10
—May 8TwinsPostponed (rain); Makeup: July 30
26May 9Twins3–1Hunter (2–3)Thormodsgard (1–4)Lyle (5)Yankee Stadium11,27116–10
27May 12@ Royals3–4Bird (2–2)Gossage (2–4)Royals Stadium33,06116–11
28May 13@ Royals5–2Guidry (4–0)Leonard (3–6)Gossage (3)Royals Stadium40,90317–11
29May 14@ Royals9–10Hrabosky (1–0)Clay (0–1)Royals Stadium36,03417–12
30May 15@ White Sox4–1Beattie (2–0)Wortham (1–2)Lyle (6)Comiskey Park17,56918–12
31May 16@ White Sox8–3Holtzman (1–0)Wood (3–4)Gossage (4)Comiskey Park21,83719–12
32May 17@ Indians4–5 (10)Monge (1–0)Lyle (2–1)Cleveland Stadium10,37019–13
33May 18@ Indians5–3Guidry (5–0)Kinney (0–2)Gossage (5)Cleveland Stadium13,62520–13
34May 19@ Blue Jays11–3Tidrow (2–3)Jefferson (2–5)Exhibition Stadium26,02521–13
35May 20@ Blue Jays8–10Lemanczyk (1–7)Clay (0–2)Exhibition Stadium30,55021–14
36May 21@ Blue Jays2–1Figueroa (5–1)Underwood (1–4)Gossage (6)Exhibition Stadium–22–14
37May 21@ Blue Jays9–1Clay (1–2)Garvin (2–2)Exhibition Stadium41,30823–14
38May 23Indians10–1Guidry (6–0)Hood (3–2)Yankee Stadium20,61824–14
—May 24IndiansPostponed (rain); Makeup: July 27
39May 25Indians9–3Tidrow (3–3)Waits (3–4)Yankee Stadium15,40325–14
40May 26Blue Jays4–3Lyle (3–1)Garvin (2–3)Yankee Stadium24,17126–14
41May 27Blue Jays1–4Clancy (3–4)Figueroa (5–2)Murphy (3)Yankee Stadium56,07826–15
42May 28Blue Jays5–3Guidry (7–0)Jefferson (3–6)Yankee Stadium–27–15
43May 28Blue Jays6–5 (13)Gossage (3–4)Murphy (2–1)Yankee Stadium41,53428–15
44May 29@ Indians2–0Eastwick (2–0)Waits (3–5)Cleveland Stadium19,56329–15
45May 30@ Indians1–5Wise (3–8)Tidrow (3–4)Cleveland Stadium6,06929–16
46May 31Orioles2–3Flanagan (6–4)Figueroa (5–3)Yankee Stadium21,40429–17
June: 14–15 (Home: 7–4; Away: 7–11)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveStadiumAttendanceRecord
47June 1Orioles0–1Palmer (7–4)Beattie (2–1)Yankee Stadium19,94329–18
48June 2@ Athletics3–1Guidry (8–0)Johnson (4–3)Gossage (7)Oakland Coliseum18,99330–18
49June 3@ Athletics1–5Keough (3–4)Messersmith (0–1)Oakland Coliseum14,49930–19
50June 4@ Athletics4–6Lacey (5–2)Eastwick (2–1)Sosa (7)Oakland Coliseum19,28930–20
51June 5@ Mariners3–7House (4–4)Figueroa (5–4)Kingdome15,18930–21
52June 6@ Mariners3–4Rawley (3–5)Gossage (3–5)Kingdome12,63830–22
53June 7@ Mariners9–1Guidry (9–0)Colborn (1–4)Kingdome12,54431–22
54June 9@ Angels3–1Figueroa (6–4)Tanana (9–3)Gossage (8)Anaheim Stadium29,41532–22
55June 10@ Angels3–4 (12)LaRoche (5–2)Gossage (3–6)Anaheim Stadium37,84832–23
56June 11@ Angels6–9D. Miller (2–0)Clay (1–3)Anaheim Stadium31,64632–24
57June 12Athletics2–0Guidry (10–0)Heaverlo (2–2)Yankee Stadium28,45733–24
58June 13Athletics5–3Figueroa (7–4)Langford (1–3)Gossage (9)Yankee Stadium30,77934–24
59June 14Mariners11–9 (10)Lyle (4–1)Montague (0–2)Yankee Stadium18,01535–24
60June 15Mariners5–2Gullett (1–0)Mitchell (2–7)Lyle (7)Yankee Stadium18,64336–24
61June 16Angels7–10Aase (3–3)Beattie (2–2)Yankee Stadium35,96836–25
62June 17Angels4–0Guidry (11–0)Hartzell (1–5)Yankee Stadium33,16237–25
63June 18Angels2–3Knapp (7–5)Figueroa (7–5)Yankee Stadium55,60437–26
64June 19@ Red Sox4–10Burgmeier (2–1)Gossage (3–7)Fenway Park33,16337–27
65June 20@ Red Sox10–4Gullett (2–0)Torrez (10–3)Fenway Park32,64338–27
66June 21@ Red Sox2–9Eckersley (7–2)Beattie (2–3)Fenway Park32,45938–28
67June 22@ Tigers4–2Guidry (12–0)Rozema (2–4)Gossage (10)Tiger Stadium33,97139–28
68June 23@ Tigers12–3Lyle (5–1)Wilcox (4–6)Tiger Stadium39,02240–28
69June 24@ Tigers3–4Slaton (7–4)Tidrow (3–5)Tiger Stadium37,68140–29
70June 25@ Tigers4–2Gullett (3–0)Baker (1–1)Gossage (11)Tiger Stadium34,01441–29
71June 26Red Sox1–4Eckersley (8–2)Messersmith (0–2)Campbell (3)Yankee Stadium52,12441–30
72June 27Red Sox6–4 (14)Lyle (6–1)Drago (2–2)Yankee Stadium55,13242–30
73June 28@ Brewers0–5Caldwell (8–5)Tidrow (3–6)County Stadium–42–31
74June 28@ Brewers2–7Augustine (9–8)McCall (0–1)County Stadium39,28342–32
75June 30Tigers10–2Gullett (4–0)Baker (1–2)Yankee Stadium33,89443–32
July: 15–14 (Home: 8–8; Away: 7–6)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveStadiumAttendanceRecord
76July 1Tigers4–8Billingham (6–5)Messersmith (0–3)Yankee Stadium37,26043–33
77July 2Tigers3–2Guidry (13–0)Hiller (6–4)Gossage (12)Yankee Stadium–44–33
78July 2Tigers5–3Gossage (4–7)Slaton (8–5)Yankee Stadium51,32745–33
79July 3@ Red Sox5–9Eckersley (9–2)Figueroa (7–6)Fenway Park34,72245–34
—July 4@ Red SoxPostponed (rain); Makeup: September 7
80July 5@ Rangers2–3Matlack (7–8)Gullett (4–1)Arlington Stadium37,70245–35
81July 6@ Rangers7–2Tidrow (4–6)Medich (3–4)Arlington Stadium37,93046–35
82July 7@ Brewers0–6Caldwell (9–5)Guidry (13–1)County Stadium40,21646–36
83July 8@ Brewers5–6Rodríguez (1–3)Gossage (4–8)McClure (4)County Stadium46,51846–37
84July 9@ Brewers4–8Travers (5–4)Gullett (4–2)Stein (1)County Stadium42,63346–38
49th All-Star Game in San Diego, California
85July 13White Sox1–6Wood (10–5)Tidrow (4–7)Yankee Stadium28,53246–39
86July 14White Sox7–6 (11)Gossage (5–8)Hinton (1–3)Yankee Stadium21,98147–39
87July 15Royals2–8Leonard (10–11)Figueroa (7–7)Yankee Stadium34,97947–40
88July 16Royals1–3Gura (7–2)Beattie (2–4)Hrabosky (13)Yankee Stadium45,08947–41
89July 17Royals7–9 (11)Hrabosky (3–3)Gossage (5–9)Yankee Stadium27,02047–42
90July 19@ Twins2–0Figueroa (8–7)Zahn (8–8)Metropolitan Stadium29,59148–42
91July 20@ Twins4–0Guidry (14–1)Jackson (2–3)Metropolitan Stadium30,66049–42
92July 21@ White Sox7–4Lyle (7–1)Hinton (1–4)Gossage (13)Comiskey Park30,34850–42
93July 22@ White Sox7–2Hunter (3–3)Wood (10–7)Comiskey Park32,16351–42
94July 23@ White Sox3–1Figueroa (9–7)Kravec (7–8)Gossage (14)Comiskey Park27,65152–42
95July 24@ Royals2–5Leonard (12–11)Tidrow (4–8)Royals Stadium38,85952–43
96July 25@ Royals4–0Guidry (15–1)Splittorff (11–9)Royals Stadium40,18353–43
97July 26Indians3–1Gossage (6–9)Waits (7–11)Yankee Stadium31,63154–43
98July 27Indians11–0Figueroa (10–7)Clyde (5–6)Yankee Stadium–55–43
99July 27Indians5–17Hood (5–4)Hunter (3–4)Yankee Stadium33,41255–44
100July 28Twins5–7 (10)Marshall (5–8)Lyle (7–2)Yankee Stadium25,03755–45
101July 29Twins7–3Clay (2–3)Jackson (3–4)Gossage (15)Yankee Stadium46,71156–45
102July 30Twins4–3Gossage (7–9)Marshall (5–9)Yankee Stadium–57–45
103July 30Twins0–2Goltz (10–7)Beattie (2–5)Marshall (14)Yankee Stadium41,49157–46
104July 31Rangers6–1Figueroa (11–7)Medich (5–6)Yankee Stadium15,41958–46
August: 19–8 (Home: 11–3; Away: 8–5)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveStadiumAttendanceRecord
105August 1Rangers8–1Hunter (4–4)Matlack (8–9)Yankee Stadium18,48559–46
106August 2Red Sox5–7 (17)Stanley (6–1)Clay (2–4)Yankee Stadium52,70159–47
107August 3Red Sox1–8 (7)Torrez (13–6)Beattie (2–6)Yankee Stadium53,37959–48
108August 4Orioles1–2Flanagan (14–9)Guidry (15–2)Stanhouse (15)Yankee Stadium28,18959–49
109August 5Orioles3–2Lyle (8–2)T. Martinez (3–2)Yankee Stadium26,72760–49
110August 6Orioles3–0Hunter (5–4)Palmer (13–10)Yankee Stadium40,76561–49
111August 8Brewers3–0Tidrow (5–8)Caldwell (14–6)Gossage (16)Yankee Stadium22,54962–49
112August 9Brewers8–7McCall (1–1)McClure (2–3)Yankee Stadium27,17263–49
113August 10Brewers9–0Guidry (16–2)Augustine (10–11)Yankee Stadium35,12764–49
114August 11@ Orioles2–1 (6)Hunter (6–4)D. Martínez (8–10)Memorial Stadium29,53965–49
115August 12@ Orioles4–6Flanagan (15–10)Beattie (2–7)Stanhouse (17)Memorial Stadium32,15365–50
116August 13@ Orioles0–3 (6)McGregor (12–10)Figueroa (11–8)Memorial Stadium31,59165–51
117August 14@ Orioles4–1Gossage (8–9)Palmer (14–11)Memorial Stadium30,39766–51
118August 15@ Athletics6–0Guidry (17–2)Langford (6–8)Oakland Coliseum13,86267–51
119August 16@ Athletics5–3Hunter (7–4)Lacey (8–6)Gossage (17)Oakland Coliseum10,39468–51
120August 18@ Mariners6–1Figueroa (12–8)Mitchell (6–12)Kingdome19,82469–51
121August 19@ Mariners1–4Colborn (4–8)Tidrow (5–9)Kingdome29,91569–52
122August 20@ Mariners4–5Romo (10–4)Gossage (8–10)Kingdome21,83469–53
123August 22@ Angels6–2Hunter (8–4)Tanana (16–8)Anaheim Stadium35,64470–53
124August 23@ Angels3–6Knapp (13–7)Figueroa (12–9)LaRoche (18)Anaheim Stadium33,47270–54
125August 25Athletics7–1Guidry (18–2)Johnson (10–7)Yankee Stadium29,01071–54
126August 26Athletics5–4Lyle (9–2)Lacey (8–8)Yankee Stadium53,88372–54
127August 27Athletics6–2Hunter (9–4)Langford (6–10)Gossage (18)Yankee Stadium40,62873–54
128August 28Angels4–1Figueroa (13–9)Tanana (16–9)Gossage (19)Yankee Stadium22,48174–54
129August 29Angels4–3 (11)Gossage (9–10)LaRoche (9–6)Yankee Stadium24,20375–54
130August 30@ Orioles5–4Guidry (19–2)T. Martinez (3–3)Gossage (20)Memorial Stadium20,50176–54
131August 31@ Orioles6–2Tidrow (6–9)McGregor (12–12)Lyle (8)Memorial Stadium15,57977–54
September: 22–8 (Home: 13–4; Away: 9–4)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveStadiumAttendanceRecord
132September 1Mariners0–3Mitchell (7–13)Hunter (9–5)Yankee Stadium20,16777–55
133September 2Mariners6–2Figueroa (14–9)Colborn (4–10)Yankee Stadium18,53078–55
134September 3Mariners4–3Beattie (3–7)Honeycutt (5–8)Gossage (21)Yankee Stadium22,38679–55
135September 4Tigers9–1Guidry (20–2)Wilcox (12–9)Yankee Stadium–80–55
136September 4Tigers4–5Hiller (7–4)Lyle (9–3)Yankee Stadium46,89680–56
137September 5Tigers4–2Tidrow (7–9)Young (5–5)Gossage (22)Yankee Stadium16,89181–56
138September 6Tigers8–2Figueroa (15–9)Billingham (15–7)Yankee Stadium24,45282–56
139September 7@ Red Sox15–3Clay (3–4)Torrez (15–9)Fenway Park34,11983–56
140September 8@ Red Sox13–2Beattie (4–7)Wright (8–3)Fenway Park33,13484–56
141September 9@ Red Sox7–0Guidry (21–2)Eckersley (16–7)Fenway Park33,61185–56
142September 10@ Red Sox7–4Figueroa (16–9)Sprowl (0–2)Gossage (23)Fenway Park32,78686–56
143September 12@ Tigers4–7Young (6–5)Tidrow (7–10)Hiller (13)Tiger Stadium14,16286–57
144September 13@ Tigers7–3Beattie (5–7)Billingham (15–8)Tiger Stadium16,84187–57
145September 14@ Tigers4–2Figueroa (17–9)Slaton (15–11)Lyle (9)Tiger Stadium17,11888–57
146September 15Red Sox4–0Guidry (22–2)Tiant (10–8)Yankee Stadium54,90189–57
147September 16Red Sox3–2Hunter (10–5)Torrez (15–11)Yankee Stadium55,09190–57
148September 17Red Sox3–7Eckersley (17–8)Beattie (5–8)Stanley (9)Yankee Stadium55,08890–58
149September 18Brewers4–3Figueroa (18–9)Travers (10–11)Yankee Stadium20,55791–58
150September 19Brewers0–2Caldwell (20–9)Tidrow (7–11)Yankee Stadium26,68291–59
151September 20@ Blue Jays1–8Willis (3–6)Guidry (22–3)Exhibition Stadium–91–60
152September 20@ Blue Jays3–2Gossage (10–10)Cruz (7–3)Exhibition Stadium38,08092–60
153September 21@ Blue Jays7–1Hunter (11–5)Moore (6–8)Gossage (24)Exhibition Stadium28,65393–60
154September 22@ Indians7–8 (10)Monge (4–3)Gossage (10–11)Cleveland Stadium10,03593–61
155September 23@ Indians1–10Clyde (8–11)Beattie (5–9)Cleveland Stadium17,45293–62
156September 24@ Indians4–0Guidry (23–3)Paxton (12–10)Cleveland Stadium15,85594–62
157September 26Blue Jays4–1Figueroa (19–9)Underwood (6–14)Gossage (25)Yankee Stadium20,53595–62
158September 27Blue Jays5–1Hunter (12–5)Willis (3–7)Yankee Stadium20,05296–62
159September 28Blue Jays3–1Guidry (24–3)Moore (6–9)Yankee Stadium30,48097–62
160September 29Indians3–1Beattie (6–9)Kern (10–10)Gossage (26)Yankee Stadium30,25398–62
161September 30Indians7–0Figueroa (20–9)Paxton (12–11)Yankee Stadium55,21999–62
October: 1–1 (Home: 0–1; Away: 1–0)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveStadiumAttendanceRecord
162October 1Indians2–9Waits (13–15)Hunter (12–6)Yankee Stadium39,18999–63
163October 2@ Red Sox5–4Guidry (25–3)Torrez (16–13)Gossage (27)Fenway Park32,925100–63

AL East tie-breaker game
Main article: 1978 American League East tie-breaker game
October 2, 1978 at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Team123456789RHE
New York Yankees000000410580
Boston Red Sox0100100204110
WP: Ron Guidry (25-3)   LP: Mike Torrez (16-13)   Sv: Goose Gossage (27)
Home runs:
NYY: Bucky Dent, Reggie Jackson
BOS: Carl Yastrzemski

Season standings
AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 10063 0.613 — 55–26 45–37
Boston Red Sox 9964 0.607 1 59–23 40–41
Milwaukee Brewers 9369 0.574 6½ 54–27 39–42
Baltimore Orioles 9071 0.559 9 51–30 39–41
Detroit Tigers 8676 0.531 13½ 47–34 39–42
Cleveland Indians 6990 0.434 29 42–36 27–54
Toronto Blue Jays 59102 0.366 40 37–44 22–58

Record vs. opponents
1978 American League record

Sources:
Team BAL BOS CAL CWS CLE DET KC MIL MIN NYY OAK SEA TEX TOR
Baltimore —7–84–68–19–67–82–87–85–56–911–09–17–48–7
Boston 8–7—9–27–37–812–34–610–59–27–95–57–33–711–4
California 6–42–9—8–76–44–79–65–512–35–59–69–65–107–3
Chicago 1–83–77–8—8–22–98–74–78–71–97–87–811–44–6
Cleveland 6–98–74–62–8—5–105–65–105–56–94–68–11–910–4
Detroit 8–73–127–49–210–5—4–67–84–64–116–48–27–39–6
Kansas City 8–26–46–97–86–56–4—6–47–86–510–512–37–85–5
Milwaukee 8–75–105–57–410–58–74–6—4–710–59–15–56–412–3
Minnesota 5–52–93–127–85–56–48–77–4—3–79–66–96–96–4
New York 9–69–75–59–19–611–45–65–107–3—8–26–56–411–4
Oakland 0–115–56–98–76–44–65–101–96–92–8—13–26–97–4
Seattle 1–93–76–98–71–82–83–125–59–65–62–13—3–128–2
Texas 4–77–310–54–119–13–78–74–69–64–69–612–3—4–7
Toronto 7–84–113–76–44–106–95–53–124–64–114–72–87–4—

Notable transactions

Draft picks

Roster
1978 New York Yankees
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders

Other batters

 Manager

Coaches

Notable events

The defending World Series champions got off to a slow start in 1978, prompting owner George Steinbrenner to put pressure on manager Billy Martin. Compounding the issue was the already-tumultuous relationship between Martin and Reggie Jackson, and Steinbrenner was pressuring him as well. On July 17, with the team at 47–42 (.528) and in fourth place in the American League East, it came to a head during a home contest with the Kansas City Royals on Monday, July 17. With the score tied in the bottom of the tenth inning and Thurman Munson on first, Martin sent Jackson to the plate with orders to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Jackson tried to bunt the first pitch, but failed. Martin then relayed to third-base coach Dick Howser for Jackson to swing and Howser passed it on, but Jackson ignored Howser and attempted another bunt. Howser called time and talked with Jackson, but to no avail. On his final bunt attempt, Jackson fouled out to the catcher. Martin then removed Jackson from the game and suspended him (owner Steinbrenner limited it to five days, Tuesday through Saturday), but Kansas City won in eleven innings and swept the three-game series. Tuesday was an open date; the Yankees traveled to Minnesota and Jackson went to California.[29][30]

Jackson returned to the team in Chicago on Sunday, July 23; he did not take batting practice and remained on the bench as the Yankees swept the White Sox for their fifth consecutive win.[31] Martin commented in a post-game interview at the Chicago airport that (referring to Jackson and Steinbrenner, respectively) 'one's a born liar, and the other's convicted.' The Steinbrenner reference was alluding to a past incident where the Yankee owner made illegal U.S. presidential campaign contributions. The next day in Kansas City, Martin appeared on live television and tearfully announced his resignation as Yankees manager,[32][33][34][35][36] but most sources believed he was actually fired by Steinbrenner for the "convicted" comment.[36][37] Howser was acting manager for one game on July 24, a 5–2 loss at Kansas City on ABC's Monday Night Baseball, then Bob Lemon arrived as manager for the rest of the season.

In his first appearance since the bunting incident ten days earlier, Jackson started in right field on Thursday, July 27, and went three-for-three, with a home run, a walk, and three RBI. In the nightcap of the doubleheader, he had two hits.[38]

During the Old-Timer's Day ceremony at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, July 29, Yankee public address announcer Bob Sheppard introduced Martin to the crowd and announced that Martin would return as manager for the 1980 season.[39][40] Martin returned ahead of schedule, in June 1979,[41] and was fired again four months later, after a fight in a Minnesota hotel.[42][43] He went west to Oakland in 1980, then owned by Charlie O. Finley.[44][45][46] Martin returned to the Yankees and managed the team in 1983, 1985, and 1988.

Under Lemon in 1978, the Yankees were 47–20 (.701) for the rest of the 162-game season to tie for the division title, after having been fourteen games back on July 19. They won the division in a one-game playoff on the road,[1][2][3] and went on to repeat as World Series champions.

On September 30, Ed Figueroa won his twentieth game of the season, which clinched a tie for the AL East title.[47][48] As of 2018, Figueroa is the only native of Puerto Rico to win twenty games in a major league season.[49]

Player stats
= Indicates team leader

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
CThurman Munson154617183.297671
1BChris Chambliss162625171.2741290
2BWillie Randolph134499139.279342
3BGraig Nettles159587162.2762793
SSBucky Dent12337992.243540
LFLou Piniella130472148.314669
CFMickey Rivers141559148.2651148
RFReggie Jackson139511140.2742797
DHCliff Johnson7617432.184619

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Roy White10334693.269843
Fred Stanley8116035.21919
Jim Spencer7115034.227724
Paul Blair7512522.176213
Gary Thomasson5411632.276320
Mike Heath339221.22808
Jay Johnstone366517.26216
Brian Doyle395210.19200
Dámaso García18418.19501
George Zeber360.00000
Dell Alston330.00000
Mickey Klutts1221.00000
Dennis Sherrill210.00000
Fran Healy110.00000
Domingo Ramos100----00

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Ron Guidry35273.22531.74248
Ed Figueroa35253.02092.9992
Dick Tidrow31185.07113.8473
Jim Beattie25128.0693.7365
Catfish Hunter21118.01263.5856
Don Gullett844.2423.6328
Andy Messersmith622.1035.6416

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Ken Clay2875.2344.2832
Paul Lindblad718.1004.429
Ken Holtzman517.2104.083
Larry McCall516.0115.637
Dave Rajsich413.1004.059

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Goose Gossage631011272.01122
Sparky Lyle599393.4733
Rawly Eastwick82103.2813
Bob Kammeyer70005.8211
Ron Davis400011.570

Postseason

Postseason game log
1978 Postseason Game Log (7−3) (Home 5−0; Away 2−3)
American League Championship Series: 3−1
#DateOpponentStadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
1October 3@ RoyalsRoyals Stadium7−1Beattie (1−0)Leonard (0−1)Clay (1)41,1431−0
2October 4@ RoyalsRoyals Stadium4−10Gura (1−0)Figueroa (0−1)41,1581−1
3October 6RoyalsYankee Stadium6−5Gossage (1−0)Bird (0−1)55,4452−1
4October 7RoyalsYankee Stadium2−1Guidry (1−0)Leonard (0−2)Gossage (1)56,3563−1
World Series: 4–2
#DateOpponentStadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
1October 10@ DodgersDodger Stadium5−11John (2−0)Figueroa (0−2)55,9970−1
2October 11@ DodgersDodger Stadium3−4Hooton (1−0)Hunter (0−1)Welch (1)55,9820−2
3October 13DodgersYankee Stadium5−1Guidry (2−0)Sutton (0−2)56,4471−2
4October 14DodgersYankee Stadium4−3 (10)Gossage (2−0)Welch (1−1)56,4452−2
5October 15DodgersYankee Stadium12−2Beattie (2−0)Hooton (1−1)56,4483−2
6October 17@ DodgersDodger Stadium7−2Hunter (1−1)Sutton (0−3)55,9854−2

ALCS
Main article: 1978 American League Championship Series

Game 1

October 3: Royals Stadium

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 011 020 030 7160
Kansas City 000 001 000 122
W: Jim Beattie (1-0)  L: Dennis Leonard (0-1)  S: Ken Clay (1)
HRs: NYY – Reggie Jackson (1)

Game 2

October 4: Royals Stadium

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 000 000 220 4121
Kansas City 140 000 32X 10161
W: Larry Gura (1-0)  L: Ed Figueroa (0-1)
HRs: KCR – Freddie Patek (1)

Game 3

October 6: Yankee Stadium

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kansas City 101 010 020 5101
New York 010 201 02X 6100
W: Goose Gossage (1-0)  L: Doug Bird (0-1)
HRs: KCR – George Brett 3 (3)   NYY – Reggie Jackson (2) Thurman Munson (1)

Game 4

October 7: Yankee Stadium

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kansas City 100 000 000 170
New York 010 001 00X 240
W: Ron Guidry (1-0)  L: Dennis Leonard (0-2)  S: Goose Gossage (1)
HRs: NYY – Graig Nettles (1) Roy White (1)

World Series
Main article: 1978 World Series
AL New York Yankees (4) vs. NL Los Angeles Dodgers (2)
Game Score Date Location Attendance Time of Game
1Yankees – 5, Dodgers – 11October 10Dodger Stadium55,9972:48
2Yankees – 3, Dodgers – 4October 11Dodger Stadium55,9822:37
3Dodgers – 1, Yankees – 5October 13Yankee Stadium56,4472:27
4Dodgers – 3, Yankees – 4 (10 inns)October 14Yankee Stadium56,4453:17
5Dodgers – 2, Yankees – 12October 15Yankee Stadium56,4482:56
6Yankees – 7, Dodgers – 2October 17Dodger Stadium55,9852:34

Awards and honors

Franchise records
  • Ron Guidry, Yankees single season record, most strikeouts in a season (248)

All-Stars

All-Star Game

Other team leaders
  • Stolen Bases – Willie Randolph, 36
  • Walks – Willie Randolph, 82

Farm system
See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Tacoma Yankees Pacific Coast League Mike Ferraro
AA West Haven Yankees Eastern League Stump Merrill
A Fort Lauderdale Yankees Florida State League Doug Holmquist
A-Short Season Oneonta Yankees New York–Penn League Art Mazmanian

LEAGUE CO-CHAMPION: Tacoma[50]

Notes
  1. "Yanks win playoff game on two homers". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. October 2, 1978. p. 1D.
  2. "Yankees edge BoSox; playoffs open tonight". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. October 3, 1978. p. 3B.
  3. "Yankees Dent Red Sox, play Royals for pennant". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. October 3, 1978. p. C1.
  4. Goose Gossage at Baseball Reference
  5. Jesús Figueroa at Baseball Reference
  6. Sergio Ferrer at Baseball Reference
  7. Stan Thomas at Baseball Reference
  8. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p. 99, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
  9. "Guidry unanimous Cy Young winner". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. November 1, 1978. p. 65.
  10. "Suspense lacking for Ron Guidry". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 2, 1978. p. 32.
  11. Moses, Sam (January 22, 1979). "Yankee from Louisiana". Sports Illustrated. p. 60.
  12. "'Miracle' Yanks go for it all today". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. October 1, 1978. p. 7B.
  13. McMane, Fred (October 2, 1978). "Rick Waits gives Sox another chance". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). UPI. p. 32.
  14. "Bosox catch Yanks; playoff set today". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). wire reports. October 2, 1978. p. 3B.
  15. "Yankees lose a big one". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 2, 1978. p. 5B.
  16. "How they stand". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). July 18, 1978. p. 4C.
  17. "Baseball standings: American League". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). July 19, 1978. p. 18.
  18. "Yankees slip a 'Mickey' past Yaz". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. September 17, 1978. p. 8B.
  19. "Yankees fly to 3½-game lead". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. September 17, 1978. p. 85.
  20. Keith, Larry (September 25, 1978). "Seeing ain't believing". Sports Illustrated. p. 24.
  21. "Holy cow!! It's a new season". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. September 11, 1978. p. 25.
  22. "Those Damn Yankees tie Red Sox for division lead". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. September 11, 1978. p. 3B.
  23. May, Peter (September 11, 1978). "The Big Collapse: Part 4 is staged". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). UPI. p. 31.
  24. Ken Holtzman at Baseball Reference
  25. Bobby Brown at Baseball Reference
  26. Mickey Klutts at Baseball Reference
  27. Rex Hudler at Baseball Reference
  28. Steve Balboni at Baseball Reference
  29. "Reggie Jackson suspended". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. July 18, 1978. p. 19.
  30. "Billy's goat". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 18, 1978. p. 1C.
  31. "Yankees' turmoil". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. July 24, 1978. p. 1C.
  32. Cass, Murray (July 25, 1978). "Tempestuous Martin out as manager". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). (New York Times) News Service. p. 3B.
  33. "Billy sheds a tear for himself". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. July 25, 1978. p. 1D.
  34. Chass, Murray (July 25, 1978). "Billy Martin tearfully quits job with Yankees". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). (New York Times). p. 1.
  35. "Odyssey ends: Billy quits". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 25, 1978. p. 17.
  36. Keith, Larry (July 31, 1978). "A bunt that went boom!". Sports Illustrated. p. 14.
  37. "Remarks about boss may bring Martin's dismissal". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. July 24, 1978. p. 21.
  38. "Yankees, Indians split". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. July 28, 1978. p. 3C.
  39. Cass, Murray (July 30, 1978). "Manager merry-go-round". Sunday Star-News. (Wilmington, North Carolina). (New York Times) News Service. p. 1C.
  40. "New York rehires Billy for '80". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. July 30, 1978. p. 81.
  41. "Martin sees Jackson key to success". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. June 19, 1979. p. 22.
  42. Rappoport, Ken (October 29, 1979). "Billy Martin axed again". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 22.
  43. "Yankees fire Martin again". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. October 29, 1979. p. B4.
  44. "Martin missed game, happy with A's job". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. February 22, 1978. p. 21.
  45. "Martin's back, thanks to Charlie O." Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (Chicago Sun Times). February 22, 1980. p. 21.
  46. Fimrite, Ron (March 10, 1980). "Berkeley Billy comes home again". Sports Illustrated. p. 18.
  47. "Yanks clinch AL East tie, but Boston wins, too". Sunday Star-News. (Wilmington, North Carolina). Associated Press. October 1, 1978. p. 5C.
  48. HernÌÁndez, Lou (June 27, 2016). Chronology of Latin Americans in Baseball, 1871-2015. McFarland. ISBN 9781476662275 – via Google Books.
  49. "Ed Figueroa - Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org.
  50. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007

References
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